Armed Forces: Bowman

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they expect the provisos that limit the operational capability of the Bowman Combat Infrastructure Platform to be lifted.

Lord Drayson: As reported by the NAO in July 2006, Bowman and CIP were declared in service with 59 provisos between them. To date, 23 of these provisos have been cleared and the department currently expects to resolve the remaining provisos around the end of 2007.

Armed Forces: Bowman

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How provisos on the operational capability of the Bowman Combat Infrastructure Platform Programme are managed within the Ministry of Defence's contract with General Dynamics UK.

Lord Drayson: Provisos are not managed by the Bowman Combat Infrastructure Platform contract. They are used by the department as a way of making useful capabilities available to the Armed Forces as soon as possible. It is an example of our pragmatic approach to incremental acquisition.

Armed Forces: Bowman

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress the Ministry of Defence has made in developing a forward plan to address capability shortfalls within, or those capability shortfalls removed from, the Bowman Combat Infrastructure Platform Programme and, in particular, in the ability to communicate directly with allies; and when they expect this plan to be finalised.

Lord Drayson: This issue was included in the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee of Public Accounts report Delivering digital tactical communications through the Bowman CIP Programme published on 8 March 2007. The Government will respond to the committee in a Treasury minute shortly.

Armed Forces: Bowman

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What work is ongoing to simplify the use of the Bowman Combat Infrastructure Platform Programme for service personnel.

Lord Drayson: The Bowman Combat Infrastructure Platform is an incremental programme and improvement of ease of use is one of the key elements of the next increment due to be fielded in 2008.

Armed Forces: Bowman

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress the Ministry of Defence has made in developing a built-in through-life support system for the Bowman Combat Infrastructure Platform Programme.

Lord Drayson: The department has an incremental improvement strategy towards Bowman Combat Infrastructure and Platform support that is compliant with current and emerging support policy while meeting the needs of the front line. The intention is to develop a long-term through-life support solution.

Armed Forces: Bowman

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What lessons the Ministry of Defence has learnt from the use of the Bowman Combat Infrastructure Platform Programme in Iraq and Afghanistan that will inform its final acceptance of the system from the contractor.

Lord Drayson: Lessons from Iraq and Afghanistan will inform the department's future capability development, rather than acceptance of the system. Bowman Combat Infrastructure Platform has been accepted into service, albeit with provisos, which are due to be cleared under the next increment that is currently undergoing trials and testing.

Armed Forces: Bowman

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Ministry of Defence is aware of any incompatibility with VHF transmissions using Bowman and electronic counter measures equipment.

Lord Drayson: I am withholding details of electronic counter measures (ECM) as its disclosure would prejudice, or would be likely to prejudice, the capability effectiveness of security of our Armed Forces. The interoperability of all systems that operate within the electro-magnetic spectrum is an issue under constant review. The ECM capability we field is world-leading.

Armed Forces: Bowman

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What impact the Bowman Combat Infrastructure Platform Programme has had on inter-crew communications.

Lord Drayson: Initial difficulties with inter-crew communications have been overcome and performance is expected to improve with the next increment of Bowman Combat Infrastructure Platform capability, due to be fielded next year.

Armed Forces: Communications

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What work the Ministry of Defence is undertaking to develop a radio that meets the Army's requirements for dismounted soldiers; how this work is structured; and when they expect this work to be completed.

Lord Drayson: Work is continuing on how best to improve the portability of the Bowman VHF manpack radio, aiming to deliver an improved solution for specific roles which will be based on a re-engineered and lighter radio. This should be introduced over the next two years.

Armed Forces: Drug Tests

Lord Garden: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What trends they have identified in illegal drug taking in the Armed Forces since random testing was introduced.

Lord Drayson: Identified trends in illegal drug taking in the Armed Forces are:
	Rates of positive tests for the Army initially fell during the first two years when random tests were introduced (from 1.4 per cent in 1995 to 0.7 per cent in 1996). More recently, positive results for the Armed Forces overall have fluctuated but increased from 0.53 per cent in 2000 to 0.65 per cent in 2006.
	The misuse of class A drugs has risen for each of the services and increased for the Armed Forces as a whole from 42.5 per cent of positive results in 2000 to 56.9 per cent in 2006.
	Further information is shown in the table below:
	
		
			  2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 
			 Royal Navy: 
			 Positive rates among those tested 0.35% 0.39% 0.33% 0.41% 0.39% 0.37% 0.46% 
			 Percentages of positives which were class A 55.3% 44.0% 30.2% 62.5% 55.3% 76.6% 79.0% 
			 Army: 
			 Positive rates among those tested 0.59% 0.65% 0.58% 0.56% 0.69% 0.83% 0.74% 
			 Percentages of positives which were class A 41.2% 49.5% 46.5% 47.0% 37.2% 61.2% 55.0% 
			 Royal Air Force: 
			 Positive rates among those tested 0.12% 0.13% 0.09% 0.15% 0.21% 0.16% 0.14% 
			 Percentages of positives which were class A 35.7% 39.0% 30.0% 20.0% 45.8% 57.1% 66.7% 
			 Armed Forces overall:
			 Positive rates among those tested 0.53% 0.57% 0.50% 0.49% 0.61% 0.71% 0.65% 
			 Percentages of positives which were class A 42.5% 48.8% 45.0% 47.5% 38.7% 62.0% 56.9%

Armed Forces: Procurement

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Following the experience of the Bowman Combat Infrastructure Platform Programme, how they intend to apply the senior responsible owner concept to future projects and programmes.

Lord Drayson: The issue of appointing senior responsible owners was included in the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee of Public Accounts report Delivering digital tactical communications through the Bowman CIP Programme published on 8 March 2007. The Government will respond to the committee in a Treasury minute shortly.

Armed Forces: Procurement

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What lessons for the through-life capability management concept the Ministry of Defence has learnt from the Bowman Combat Infrastructure Platform Programme.

Lord Drayson: The department is implementing the through-life capability management model across defence as one of the key elements of the Defence Acquisition Change Programme. The specific question of through- life management issues relating to complex new systems such as supporting Bowman Combat Infrastructure Platform was included in the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee of Public Accounts report Delivering digital tactical communications through the Bowman CIP Programme published on 8 March 2007. The Government will respond to the committee in a Treasury minute shortly.

Arts: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why there is less spent by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland per head of the population than Arts Councils in other parts of the United Kingdom; and what they propose to do to redress the balance.

Lord Rooker: Historically funding for the arts in Northern Ireland has been lower per head of population than in other parts of the UK. This reflects past regional priorities for public expenditure.
	The level of funding for the arts in future years will be considered as part of the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review.

Arts: Northern Ireland

Lord Glentoran: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether any public expenditure will be committed to artistic events that comprise the Northern Ireland section of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington DC in July; and, if so, how much.

Lord Rooker: The Smithsonian Folklife Festival is a professionally curated, outdoor exhibit of ethnography demonstrating living cultural traditions as practised in contemporary society. The Northern Ireland programme on the National Mall is jointly funded between the NI Administration and the Smithsonian Institution. It is anticipated that the total costs of mounting the NI exhibit on the Mall will be in the region of £1,252,998 of which NI's share of the costs will be approximately £789,000. This will be partly underwritten by private sector sponsorship.

Arts: Northern Ireland

Lord Glentoran: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which publicly funded organisations from Northern Ireland will be represented at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington DC in July.

Lord Rooker: At the Smithsonian's Folklife Festival there will be some participants who are currently employed in publicly funded organisations. The invitation pertains to the person as an expert on cultural traditions rather than the organisation:
	The Arts Council of Northern Ireland;
	Environment and Heritage Service;
	Newry Institute/School of Hospitality and Tourism;
	Public Record Office of Northern Ireland; and
	Ulster Folk and Transport Museum

Arts: Northern Ireland

Lord Glentoran: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action they are taking to promote publicly funded arts organisations from Northern Ireland at international events other than the Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

Lord Rooker: The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure works in partnership with the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the British Council to showcase artists and arts organisations from Northern Ireland at international events.
	In addition to the Smithsonian Institution Folklife Festival, which will run from 27 June to 8 July 2007, events supported over the last year and those planned for 2007 are shown in the following table:
	
		
			 April 2006 Brian Irvine Ensemble visit to Moscow 
			 April/May 2006 Literature and Music Festival, New York 
			 July 2006 - July 2007 NI Performance Arts Festival, Romania 
			 August 2006 Edinburgh Literature Bookfair 
			 September 2006 - January 2007 NI Video Art in Mexico 
			 2006 - 2007 Czech Showcase of Northern Ireland Arts 
			 March 2007 New York Bands Showcase 
			 March - July 2007 Re-Discover Northern Ireland, Washington DC 
			 March - June 2007 Belfast and Palestinian Visual Arts Exchange 
			 June - November 2007 Northern Ireland exhibition at Venice Biennale 
			 Ongoing Forum Theatre—NI theatre practitioners working in Georgia and Armenia 
			 Note: Some events are funded solely by the British Council

Belfast Agreement

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the meaning of parity of esteem and equality as used in the 1998 Belfast agreement.

Lord Rooker: Her Majesty's Government define the phrase "parity of esteem" with reference to its meaning in the Belfast agreement to signify equal respect for the identity, ethos and aspirations of both communities in Northern Ireland. The term "equality" appears in a number of parts of the Belfast agreement and therefore must be interpreted within those contexts accordingly.

British Coal Compensation

Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the current average cost, including historical expenditure, but excluding awards of compensation, of handling each claim under (a) the British Coal respiratory disease litigation, and (b) the British Coal vibration white finger litigation.

Lord Truscott: It is difficult to calculate average costs for handling claims, as the costs we pay to contractors are not activity-based. However, indicative average costs as at 31 March 2007 are approximately £3,500 for respiratory disease and £2,600 for vibration white finger.

British Coal Compensation

Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the total amount in respect of legal costs, including those incurred at trial, paid to their solicitors, Nabarro Nathanson, in respect of (a) the British Coal respiratory disease litigation, and (b) the British Coal white finger vibration litigation; and what estimate they have made of the further amount of legal costs to be paid to those solicitors before the winding-up of each claims handling scheme.

Lord Truscott: As at end of February 2007, the costs paid to Nabarro are £34 million. This cannot be broken down by claim type and covers chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, vibration white finger and others.
	On current estimates, it is expected that a further £9 million costs will be incurred by end March 2010.

British Coal Compensation

Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have made an assessment of the number of eligible claimants entitled to make service claims in the British Coal white finger vibration litigation, but whose solicitors failed to lodge the required applications.

Lord Truscott: The department does not have this information. It is up to the claimant and their solicitors to ensure that a claim is submitted if they wish to make a services claim under the vibration white finger scheme.

British Coal Compensation

Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have made an assessment of their claims handlers' practice of making full and final settlement offers in respect of retired miners suffering chronic bronchitis in the British Coal respiratory disease litigation and thereby not giving their widows the right to lodge subsequent claims under the claims handling agreement for emphysema diagnosed on post mortem.

Lord Truscott: The majority of claims in the respiratory disease scheme have passed through the medical assessment process (MAP). The MAP involves completion of a report by a respiratory physician specialising, and having had training, in this particular field. The MAP is an exceptionally thorough, and necessarily complex, assessment. In the case of live men, it is used to assess a man's health as it stands at that period in time. The claims handling agreement provides for the MAP report to be disputed. The department makes full and final offers in settlement of these claims and it is not possible for these claims to be reopened.
	To reopen any of these claims would simply not be in the public interest. It would also defeat the core purposes for which the scheme was initiated; namely, to provide a fair, efficient and timely means by which to ensure damages are paid.

Civil Service: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether a requirement for applicants for a position or post to have a detailed knowledge of Irish or Ulster Scots complies with equality requirements; and
	Why the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure required applicant interviews to a position for civil servants, advertised in a memorandum entitled interchange opportunity IC14/07 dated 8 March 2007 from the Social Security Agency, to be carried out in Irish.

Lord Rooker: Interchange opportunity IC14/07 dated 8 March 2007 relates to a position within a private limited company. A number of public and private sector organisations participated in the interchange arrangements, so the opportunity in question was not open only to civil servants. The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure did not require applicant interviews to be carried out in Irish. This was a decision taken by the directors of the company. In this situation, any requirement for applicants for a position or post to have a detailed knowledge of Irish or Ulster Scots would be a matter for the organisation involved and would be related to the skills required for the post.

Civil Service: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which positions in the Northern Ireland Civil Service require appointment interviews to be held in Irish; and how many interviews have taken place or are proposed to take place on that basis.

Lord Rooker: No appointment interviews have been held in Irish for posts in the NICS and none is planned.

Civil Service: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many private companies over the past two years have used the internal recruitment process of the Northern Ireland Civil Service to recruit their staff; and which companies were involved.

Lord Rooker: No private company has used the NICS recruitment service to recruit its staff.

Civil Service: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How often was the process of internal trawl used by the Northern Ireland Civil Service to recruit employees for (a) the Civil Service, and (b) outside bodies over the past two years.

Lord Rooker: The internal trawl process relates to internal moves and has not been used to recruit employees for (a) the Civil Service, and (b) outside bodies over the past two years.

Civil Service: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure has an equal opportunity policy for recruitment; and whether any individuals have been recruited by that department as a result of interviews conducted in Irish.

Lord Rooker: All of the 11 Northern Ireland departments are covered by the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) equal opportunities policy statement. This statement is contained in the recruitment policy and procedures manual, which sets out the strategic issues relating to recruitment as well as the actual processes used. The NICS recruitment processes have been designed to ensure compliance with the recruitment principles outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners' Code. The recruitment policy and procedures manual is available on the NICS recruitment website at www.nicsrecruitment.gov.uk. There have been no staff recruited into DCAL as a result of interviews carried out in Irish.

Compensation: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What proposals they have to support further and compensate victims of the troubles in Northern Ireland.

Lord Rooker: The Government have provided, and continue to provide, statutory compensation schemes for victims of personal injury and criminal damage in Northern Ireland.
	The recent report of Mrs Bertha McDougall made a number of recommendations on areas such as the establishment of a Victims and Survivors Forum, improved services for carers of victims and survivors, improved access to mental health and psychotherapy services and the development of sufficiently flexible funding programmes to take account of the individual and changing needs of victims and survivors.
	These recommendations will help to inform the next phase of policy in relation to victims and survivors which will be a matter for discussion and decision making by the incoming Executive following the restoration of the devolved institutions on 8May.

Crime: Operation Payback

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	With respect to each iteration of Operation Payback to date— (a) how much money was recovered contemporaneously, and how much of that was enforcement fees; (b) how much money was recovered subsequently, but attributable to Operation Payback, and how much of that was enforcement fees; (c) what were the costs of the operation, excluding any enforcement costs funded through enforcement fees; and (d) how many people were arrested, and of that number, how many (i) were jailed, and (ii) went straight to prison, and what happened to the others.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The table below provides information on money recovered, costs and imprisonments in relation to the three iterations of Operation Payback to date. Statistics relating to enforcement fees and arrests were not collected as part of the evaluation exercises.
	
		
			 Statistics from Operation Payback Evaluation Reports 
			  Money recovered during the week(s) of the Operation1 Total collected attributable to Payback (including pre-Payback activities, cash collected during Payback, legally cancelled during Payback and value of fines served through imprisonment)2 Costs (production and distribution of publicity)3 Number of defaulters detained in court (i.e. to serve a one-day sentence)4 Number of defaulters imprisoned for more than one day4 
			 Operation Payback (w/c 22 March 2004)5 £631,298 £750,000 £230,000 31 36 
			 Operation Payback 2 (6-14 November 2004)5 £1,320,703 £1,766,876 £292,000 146 168 
			 Operation Payback 3 (15-23 October 2005)5 £1,413,112 £2,098,000 £300,000 11 306 
		
	
	1 It is not possible to separate out figures relating specifically to enforcement fees.
	2 It is not possible to identify figures relating to money recovered post-Payback specifically attributable to Payback activity.
	3 Each area funded Payback activity from existing resources, HMCS/DCA only provided central funding for the accompanying national press campaigns.
	4 Numbers of defaulters arrested during or following Operation Paybacks are not available. Some defaulters were detained in court to serve a one-day sentence (i.e. the defaulter was required to remain in court until the court rose).
	5 Some areas ran Payback on different dates due to operational reasons (e.g. clashes with Inside Justice Week).

Debt

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will take measures to prevent people in debt from seeking artificial debt consolidation schemes.

Lord Truscott: The Government want to see access to free, impartial debt advice for all who need it. We are spending £47.5 million on rolling out face-to-face debt advice for the financially excluded. This will fund the recruitment and training of more than 500 new advisers. These will help tens of thousands of consumers to make informed choices on how to handle their debt problems. We have also helped fund the National Debtline, which is now able to provide telephone advice to more than 120,000 clients.
	Providers of debt consolidation must be licensed under the Consumer Credit Act 1974. The Consumer Credit Act 2006 provides the Office of Fair Trading with new powers to take action where licensees do not meet the necessary standards. It also enables borrowers to challenge a credit relationship which is unfair. In addition, legislation provides for protection against misleading advertisements and against fraud.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Philip Anschutz

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When was the last time the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport or any official within her office had contact with Mr Philip Anschutz or any of his associates; and what was the nature of such contact.

Lord Davies of Oldham: On 30 October 2005 the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport attended a private dinner hosted by Matthew Freud at which guests included Philip Anschutz and another representative of Anschutz Entertainment Group.
	On 31 October 2005, the Minister for Sport, and officials, attended a dinner hosted by Lord Heseltine at which Philip Anschutz was present.
	Details of these meetings were previously provided in the Answer of 20 December 2005 (Official Report, cols. 2654W-2656W) to the honourable Member for North-East Cambridgeshire (Mr Moss) and in the Answer of 17 July 2006 (Official Report, cols. 94W-95W) to the honourable Member for East Devon (Mr Swire).

Equality: Departmental Responsibility

Lord Ouseley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the rationale for placing responsibility for equalities with the Department for Communities and Local Government, save for anti-age discrimination, which has been placed with the Department for Work and Pensions.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Department for Communities and Local Government brings together responsibilities from across government for social cohesion and equality, recognising the importance of equality across government and the necessity of collaboration in delivery. There is a natural synergy between matters of equality and the way we live in our communities. In taking forward these responsibilities, the Department for Communities and Local Government has a wider role as a champion of equality across government, in close liaison with the Department for Work and Pensions, which has lead responsibility for policy on disability and age equality policy because of the close links with welfare reform and pensions, and the Department of Trade and Industry, with its responsibilities in the field of employment.

Festivals: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they again propose to involve transitional funding in the allocation of funding to festivals in Northern Ireland in 2007.

Lord Rooker: Yes. My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State with responsibility for Culture, Arts and Leisure in Northern Ireland (Maria Eagle) announced in a press release on 15 December 2006 on the arrangements for the Community Festivals Fund for 2007-08 that a contingency had been set aside for the possibility of a reduced level of transitional funding for specified festivals in 2007.

Firearms: Certificates

Lord Morrow: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In the past two years in Northern Ireland, how many firearms certificates have been refused renewal; how many firearms certificates have been renewed; and, of those individuals whose certificates have been refused, how many have no criminal convictions.

Lord Rooker: The Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland has provided the following information:
	
		
			  01/02/2005 - 31/01/2006  01/02/2006 - 31/01/2007  
			  Granted Refused Granted Refused 
			 Applications 12,486 186 23,950 152 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. It is not possible to provide information about the number of refused applicants who have no criminal convictions.
	2. Firearm certificates are no longer renewed. A person whose certificate has expired is subject to the full grant process.
	3. The increase in processed applications in 2006-07 reflects a clearance of a backlog of applications from the previous year.

Food: Labelling

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will seek agreement by United Kingdom supermarkets and food producers on a standard identical format for front-of-pack nutritional data which is comprehensible to consumers.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: At its meeting on 9 March 2006 the Food Standards Agency's board made recommendations for a voluntary front-of-pack nutrition labelling approach that could be used by all manufacturers and retailers.
	An independent study to evaluate the impact of front-of-pack nutrition signpost labelling systems that are being used in the United Kingdom is being set up. The study is expected to identify what works best for consumers in terms of improving their understanding of healthy eating messages and motivating them to change their behaviour.

Gambling: Casinos

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action they will take further to the outcomes in both Houses of Parliament of the proceedings on 28 March on the Gambling (Geographical Distribution of Casino Premises Licences) Order 2007.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Ministers are considering the implications of the proceedings in both Houses of Parliament on 28 March, in respect of the Gambling (Geographical Distribution of Casino Premises Licenses) Order 2007, and will make a further announcement in due course.

Government: Lyons Review

Baroness Scott of Needham Market: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the total cost of all of the phases of the Lyons review.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Lyons inquiry is estimated to cost about £1.76 million. In addition, £464,637 of funding has been provided by the Government for research commissioned by the inquiry.

Gulf War Illnesses

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In the cases of how many veterans of the 1991 Gulf War the term Gulf War syndrome has been used by the Pensions Appeal Tribunal in allowing the veteran's appeal.

Lord Drayson: Records from the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency show that the term Gulf War syndrome, which includes the umbrella term Gulf War syndrome, has been used by the Pensions Appeal Tribunal in allowing the appeals of some 30 individuals. This figure has been rounded to the nearest five for data protection purposes and to reflect the level of accuracy associated with data obtained from administrative systems.

Gulf War Illnesses

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In the cases of how many veterans of the 1991 Gulf War the term Gulf War syndrome has been accepted by the Veterans Agency in making awards; and
	How many veterans of the 1991 Gulf War now have pensions awarded to them under the umbrella term Gulf War syndrome.

Lord Drayson: No veterans of the 1990-91 Gulf Conflict have pensions awarded to them solely under the umbrella term Gulf War syndrome as war pensions are awarded only for accepted disablements. Where accepted disablements relate to a veteran's service in connection with the 1990-91 Gulf conflict, the umbrella term can be applied to those disablements.
	As at 31 December 2006, approximately 60 individuals had war pensions or gratuities with the term Gulf War syndrome, including the umbrella term, accepted by the Veterans Agency. This figure has been rounded to the nearest five for data protection purposes and to reflect the level of accuracy associated with data obtained from administrative systems.

Health: Emergency Treatment

Baroness Taylor of Bolton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress they have made in ensuring that a patient's record of vaccinations is available to medical staff in the event of the patient needing emergency treatment.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Where possible it is normal practice for healthcare workers to seek information on vaccination status of the individual during the clinical record taking.

Health: Food Supplements and Herbal Remedies

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether new products bearing claims referring to (a) children's development and health; (b) slimming and weight-control; or (c) newly emerging science can be placed on the United Kingdom market after 7 July under European Union Regulation 1924/2006 on Nutrition and Health Claims Made on Foods.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The regulation puts in place various transitional periods, and associated conditions, which allow health claims to continue to be made following the application date of 1 July and until the Community list of health claims has been adopted. These transitional periods relate to the health claim, rather than the product or nature of supporting evidence.
	The specific transitional period for claims, which refer to slimming or weight control and psychological behavioural functions, allows claims on the market prior to 19 January 2007 to continue to be used on the condition that an application for authorisation has been made prior to 19 January 2008.
	The controls for claims referring to children's development and health were added late in negotiations and as a result a specific transitional period could be included with an amendment on comitology currently being discussed. Both the Council and Commission have indicated that they would support this, if proposed by the European Parliament.

Health: Food Supplements and Herbal Remedies

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 7 March (WA 54), when they next propose to meet with the Governments of (a) Jersey, and (b) Guernsey to determine the extent to which the European Union legislation governing the composition, presentation and marketing of food supplements and herbal remedies applies to them; and
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 7 March (WA 56), when officials from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency last met with the Governments of (a) Jersey, and (b) Guernsey as part of their ongoing dialogue to control the marketing of illegal products; and when they next plan to meet.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Both Guernsey and Jersey have indicated their willingness to apply relevant European Union legislation. In the mean time, no meetings have yet been deemed necessary.
	Officials from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), an executive agency of the department, met officials from the Government of Guernsey on 17 December 2003. The MHRA has had no meetings with the Government of Jersey. Following the MHRA's assessment of the current consultation exercise of the Government of Guernsey on medicines legislation, the MHRA will be writing to the Governments of both Guernsey and Jersey asking for meetings.

Health: Homeopathic Hospitals

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have any proposals to close the three National Health Service homeopathic hospitals in London, Bristol and Tunbridge Wells and the specialist centre in Liverpool; and, if not, whether, and how, funding for these hospitals will be maintained.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: There are five homeopathic hospitals in the United Kingdom (Glasgow, London, Bristol, Tunbridge Wells and Liverpool). These hospitals fall under the jurisdiction of the National Health Service in the area in which they are based. Any decisions on the services any of these hospitals provide are the responsibility of those NHS healthcare organisations. Although the department provides strategic leadership to the NHS and social care organisations in England, it is for local NHS organisations to plan, develop and improve services for local people.

Health: Infant Vaccinations and Boosters

Baroness Taylor of Bolton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What proportion of infants receive a tetanus vaccination and the appropriate booster injections; and what estimate they have made of the proportion of the population that do not have appropriate tetanus vaccinations.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The latest annual estimate of one, two and five year-old children immunised against tetanus can be found in tables one to three published in NHS immunisation statistics, England: 2005-06 at the following link:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/immstats2005to2006/immunexcel/file
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/immstats2005to2006/immunpdf/file
	While we have not estimated the proportion of the population who have not received appropriate tetanus vaccinations, the incidence of tetanus in this country remains low.

Health: Tetanus

Baroness Taylor of Bolton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many cases of tetanus have been reported in the United Kingdom in each of the past 20 years; how many of these involved people over the age of 60 years; and how many fatalities from tetanus have been recorded during this period.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Cases of tetanus and deaths from tetanus for the United Kingdom, are given in the following table, with data for cases involving people aged 65 and over in brackets.
	
		
			 Year Cases in the UKCases in people >65 (-) Deaths in the UK 
			 1987 16 (9) 3 
			 1988 16 (6) 6 
			 1989 21 (10) 5 
			 1990 13 (7) 1 
			 1991 11 (7) 5 
			 1992 11 (5) 3 
			 1993 11 (7) 4 
			 1994 5 (2) — 
			 1995 6 (3) 1 
			 1996 9 (5) 1 
			 1997 8 (6) 2 
			 1998 9 (3) 2 
			 1999 4 (3) 1 
			 2000 2 (--) 1 
			 2001 6 (3) — 
			 2002 7 (4) 1 
			 2003 14 (2) 1 
			 2004 23 (2) 1 
			 2005 9 (2) — 
			 2006 3 (1)* — 
		
	
	Data have been compiled from laboratory reports, notifications and clinically diagnosed cases.
	Relating to people aged 60 and over: data cannot be provided separately. Data are provided by standard age groups and it is not possible to provide data by non-standard age groups. The data in brackets provide the number of cases for people 65 years and over—the nearest standard age group.
	Notes: *provisional

House of Lords: Gender Balance

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the ratio of women to men among those who became Members of the House of Lords in each of the past five years; and what is that ratio for those years in respect of those Members nominated by the House of Lords Appointments Commission.

Baroness Amos: The following table gives a breakdown by gender.
	
		
			 Total Nominations 
			  2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 
			 Women 0 1 14 11 9 
			 Out of a total of 5 7 49 39 36 
			 Percentage of women 0% 14% 29% 28% 25% 
		
	
	
		
			 Nominations by the House of Lords Appointments Commission 
			  2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 
			 Women 0 0 4 3 2 
			 Out of total nominated by Commission 0 0 7 7 7 
			 Percentage of women - - 57% 43% 29% 
		
	
	Source of data: House of Lords Information Office

InterTradeIreland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the religious make-up of the cross-border implementation body InterTradeIreland on 1 January of each year since its creation.

Lord Rooker: InterTradeIreland was established in December 1999 and was staffed initially through the temporary secondment of civil servants from government departments, North and South. The information set out in the following table relates to the religious make-up of InterTradeIreland employees recruited to permanent posts through open competition starting in October 2000.
	
		
			  Number of staff Roman Catholic Protestant Non- Determined 
			 1 January 2001 1 1 0 0 
			 1 January 2002 25 23 2 0 
			 1 January 2003 34 27 7 0 
			 1 January 2004 40 33 7 0 
			 1 January 2005 38 31 6 1 
			 1 January 2006 39 32 6 1 
			 1 January 2007 40 33 6 1

IRA

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 14 March (WA 132), whether they have received any assurance from the leadership of Sinn Fein that the Irish Republican Army has ceased to exist.

Lord Rooker: I refer the noble Lord to my previous Answer dated 14 March 2007 (Official Report col. WA133) and wish to advise the noble Lord that the Government base their assessments on the Independent Monitoring Commission's reports.
	In its statement of 28 July 2005, the Provisional Irish Republican Army ordered an end to the armed campaign and committed to an exclusively peaceful and political path.
	This commitment has been borne out by the IMC's 14th report, which concludes that the Provisional IRA's "operational structures have been disbanded" and that it has abandoned terrorism and violence and is "firmly committed to the political path".

Iraq: Refugees

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What planning and provision they, the United Nations and their other international partners are undertaking to meet the needs of the estimated two million Iraqis who have sought refuge in Syria and Jordan; and
	Whether the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is currently working on behalf of Iraqi refugees who have reached Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

Baroness Amos: We are in close touch with our international partners and aid agencies regarding the situation for displaced Iraqis both within Iraq and in neighbouring countries. We have regular meetings with UN agencies, in particular the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), and the International Red Cross.
	In January, UNHCR launched a $60 million appeal to address the influx of refugees into Iraq's neighbouring countries, of Syria and Jordan and the plight of displaced people inside Iraq (this is over 50 per cent funded). The money will go towards the provision of basic services and protection for internally displaced Iraqis and refugees, registration, and needs assessments. DfID has contributed £1.5 million to this appeal, part of £10 million that we have spent on humanitarian assistance in 2007. Inside Iraq, our support is providing urgently needed medical supplies, improved health facilities and restoring water and sanitation infrastructure.
	Neither Kuwait nor Saudi Arabia are signatories to the 1951 refugee convention or its 1967 protocol. While promoting accession to the 1951 convention, UNHCR is working to strengthen both countries' adherence to the principles of refugee law, to improve protection and to advocate for the introduction of domestic asylum legislation. Thus its role for Iraqi refugees is one of monitoring and lobbying for protection rather than direct assistance.
	Under the auspices of UNHCR, a meeting of international partners, including the US, UN agencies, representatives from regional governments and donor representatives will take place in Geneva on 17 April to discuss the caseload of refugees in the region and to agree the best ways to respond. We are part of this process and continue to monitor the situation closely.

Irish Language Bill

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the consultation sponsored by the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure on the proposed Irish Language Bill started; when the consultation ended; when the department published the outcome of the consultation; and what consideration was given to equality.

Lord Rooker: The first consultation paper on proposed Irish language legislation was published on 13 December 2006.
	An equality impact screening exercise was carried out for the purposes of this consultation. As a result, an equality impact assessment was conducted and published for consultation. Part one of the EQIA was published on 13 December 2006 with a deadline for responses of 2 March 2007; part two was published on 19 January 2007 with a deadline of 9 March 2007. The consultation specifically invited comments on equality issues in relation to Irish language legislation.
	A summary of responses to the equality impact assessments is shortly to be available on DCAL's website, www.dcalni.gov.uk.
	The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure has published a second consultation paper, on 13 March 2007, seeking views on indicative draft clauses for legislation. Any equality issues raised within this second consultation will be given consideration. The deadline for responses to this paper is 5 June 2007. Copies of the document are available from the Library of the House, and on DCAL's website.

Irish Language Bill

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the Ulster Scots Language is not included within the scope of the proposed Irish Language Bill; and who was consulted about this decision.

Lord Rooker: The commitment to introduce Irish language legislation was made by Government in the St Andrews agreement of October 2006.
	The Government believe that Ulster Scots at this stage is best enhanced and developed through the framework of the Council of Europe Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. To achieve this, support has been offered in an initiative to explore how the Ulster Scots language can progress to Part III status under the charter.
	The Ulster Scots Academy Implementation Group proposals for the establishment of an Ulster Scots Academy are currently under consideration. The funding of the implementation group to deliver a language development programme and the establishment of the academy will have a significant role in the development of the Ulster Scots language.
	In light of these developments, there are no current plans to introduce language legislation for Ulster Scots.

Legal Aid

Lord Dubs: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much of the total criminal legal aid budget for the latest 12-month period for which figures are available was spent on (a) cases set down for 40 days or longer, and (b) all other cases.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: Crown Court cases expected to last 41 days or more are administered under the Very High Cost Case scheme by the Legal Services Commission. Therefore, expenditure on cases set down to last 40 days or more is not available. The latest figures available show that, during 2005-06, expenditure on cases expected to last for 41 days or longer was £103 million. However, not all those cases would have necessarily lasted 41 days or more in practice. Additionally, there are some residual cases lasting between 25 and 40 days from a previous scheme which are included in the figure for the Very High Cost Case scheme.
	The latest figures available (2005-06) show that expenditure on all other Crown Court cases is £592 million. Those figures could include payments for cases that were not expected to last more than 40 days but did. A further £284 million was also spent on representation in magistrates' courts.
	All the figures above are in cash terms. Figures for 2006-07 will be available in July 2007.

Legal Aid

Lord Dubs: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much of the total legal aid budget for the latest 12-month period for which figures are available was spent on (a) criminal, and (b) civil cases.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: During 2005-06, the latest year for which figures are available, the expenditure on criminal matters through the criminal defence service scheme is set out in the table below.
	
		
			 Criminal defence service 2005-06 £m net cash 
			 Criminal magistrates' court 284 
			 Criminal legal help 11 
			 Court duty solicitor scheme 21 
			 Police stations scheme 174 
			 File review 4 
			 Public defender service 4 
			 First Assist police station phone service 3 
			 Crown Court & above 695 
			 Total criminal defence service spend 1197 
		
	
	During the same period, the expenditure on civil matters through the Community Legal Service scheme is set out below.
	
		
			 Community Legal Service 2005-06 £m net cash 
			 Family representation 471 
			 Civil non-family representation 76 
			 Immigration representation 5 
			 Family legal help 65 
			 Civil non-family legal help 117 
			 Immigration legal help 97 
			 Total Community Legal Service spend 831 
		
	
	Figures for 2006-07 are expected to be available by July 2007.

Legal Aid

Lord Dubs: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much of the total criminal legal aid budget for the latest 12-month period for which figures are available was incurred by (a) solicitors, and (b) barristers.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: During 2005-06, the last financial year for which figures are available, legal aid spend for proceedings in the Crown Court and above came to £695 million. Of that, £320 million was paid to solicitors and £375 million was paid to barristers. During the same period, £501 million was paid for legal advice and representation in the magistrates' courts. The figures will include payments made directly to barristers by the instructing solicitors, where paid. However, these payments form part of the solicitors' disbursements, of which a separate breakdown is not available.
	Figures for 2006-07 will be available in July 2007.

Legal Aid

Lord Dubs: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much of the total criminal legal aid budget for the latest 12 month period for which figures are available was spent on cases in (a) magistrates'courts, and (b) Crown Courts.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: During 2005-06, the last financial year for which figures are readily available, £284 million was spent on representation for cases in the magistrates' courts. In addition to this, a further £21 million was spent under the court duty solicitor scheme and £4 million under the public defender scheme, both of which may include representation in the magistrates' court.
	During the same period, £695 million was spent in the Crown Court and criminal appeal courts.
	Overall expenditure on all criminal legal aid, including advice at the police station, came to £1,197 million during 2005-06.
	Figures for 2006-07 will be available in July 2007.

Legal Aid

Lord Dubs: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many legal aid firms of solicitors in London have (a) signed the new legal aid contract, and (b) declined to do so.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: In London a total of 496 contracts were issued to civil legal aid solicitor firms. 450 firms signed and returned their contracts by the deadline. 46 firms have declined to sign. This equates to a sign-up rate of 91 per cent among solicitors in London.

Northern Ireland Bill of Rights Forum

Lord Kilclooney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the Government of the Republic of Ireland were consulted prior to the appointment of Mr Chris Sidoti as chairman of the Northern Ireland Bill of Rights Forum.

Lord Rooker: The Government confirmed to the Irish Government at a meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference on 26 February 2007 that Chris Sidoti would be invited to be the independent chair of the forum. Irish officials were informed of this intention the previous week.

Northern Ireland Events Company

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much the Northern Ireland Events Company received in funding in each of the past five financial years; and how much it will receive in 2007—08.

Lord Rooker: The Northern Ireland Events Company has received the following amounts of Government funding in the past five financial years:
	
		
			 Year Amount of Government funding 
			 2002-03 £2,100,000 
			 2003-04 £2,458,000 
			 2004-05 £1,890,000 
			 2005-06 £2,926,000 
			 2006-07 £2,521,000 
		
	
	The approved budget for the Northern Ireland Events Company in 2007-08 is £2,050,000.

Northern Ireland: Transitional Funding

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much funding is in the transitional fund in Northern Ireland for the current year; on what basis it is allocated; and after what equality process.

Lord Rooker: Transitional funding support of just over £8 million was set aside in 2006-07 to help schools manage the movement from seven separate formulae to a common funding formula. Each school's share of the transition fund was determined at the time of introducing the new formula to reflect the difference between allocations under the separate funding formulae and allocations made via the common funding formula. The transition arrangements were put in place for two years, with all schools moving to full formula funding in the 2007-08 financial year.
	Both the original proposals for a common funding formula (2001) and the consultation undertaken in 2004, prior to the introduction of common funding from April 2005, were subject to equality impact assessments.

Olympic Games 2012: Travellers

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether Gypsies and Irish Travellers who are to be relocated because the land they now occupy is needed for purposes connected with the Olympic Games have been properly consulted, and offered suitable alternative sites.

Baroness Andrews: The London Development Agency, which is responsible for delivering the land for the Olympic zone, consulted the Gypsies and Irish Travellers who are to be relocated, and the London boroughs that operate the existing sites, and has proposed alternative sites that are capable of accommodating all of those that need to be relocated.

Police: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 23 January (WA 233), whether the end of 50:50 recruitment to the Police Service of Northern Ireland was agreed or simply noted at St Andrews as part of that agreement.

Lord Rooker: Annex B of the agreement at St Andrews confirms the Government's commitment that the temporary 50:50 arrangements for recruitment to the PSNI will lapse when Patten's target for Catholic officers has been achieved.

Police: Northern Ireland

Lord Kilclooney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many former members of An Garda Siochana are now serving as members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland; and
	How many former members of constabularies in Great Britain are now serving as members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Lord Rooker: I am advised by the Chief Constable that one former An Garda Siochana officer and 321 former members of constabularies in Great Britain are now serving as members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Police: Northern Ireland

Lord Kilclooney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many persons born in Poland are (a) serving as members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, and (b) presently applicants to join the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Lord Rooker: There are currently no persons born in Poland serving as members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. There are presently 463 applications from persons born in Poland to join the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Prisoners: Parole

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What process is used in Northern Ireland to decide whether prisoners receive parole; who is involved in this process; who makes the final decision; and whether that person takes responsibility for that decision.

Lord Rooker: The Northern Ireland Prison Service operates a pre-release home and resettlement leave scheme which facilitates sentenced prisoners to apply for periods of temporary release during the last 12 months of their sentence. Pre-release leave is not an entitlement, but a privilege to be earned. The underlying principles are as follows:
	the decision on whether to grant leave is critically dependent on the outcome of a risk assessment. This will assess the risk of harm/danger to others, the risk of reoffending and/or engaging in illegal activity on release, the likelihood of absconding and whether the conditions of release will be honoured;the decision on whether to grant leave must take account of evidence of behaviour while in custody, including behaviour on previous periods of pre-release leave and/or compassionate bail, and of whether effective use is being made of time in prison. For example, this could be reflected by attendance at resettlement and reoffending programmes offered and/or by pursuit of educational and other constructive activities; every period of leave applied for takes account of a prisoner's pursuit of a resettlement plan. Leave taken should be relevant and structured to complement reintegration and resettlement; the amount of leave for determinate sentenced prisoners, where granted, is governed by the length of time continuously in custody; leave for life sentenced prisoners will vary, subject to a yearly maximum, to complement the agreed release programmes;leave is subject to specified conditions signed up to by the prisoner prior to a period of release; for example, return to prison, conduct self in a lawful manner, no alcohol or drugs, no contact with victims; and victims' interests, where the victim has registered with the Victim Information Scheme, are considered in the decision on whether to grant leave and in the conditions specified where leave is granted.
	The decision to release prisoners under this scheme has been delegated to dedicated local prison Home Leave and Resettlement Boards. Home Leave Boards are multidisciplinary and are comprised of representatives from the security, probation, resettlement, psychology departments, the prisoner's residential location, and if appropriate the multi-agency strategy risk assessment management team (MASRAM—relating to sex offenders). The board is chaired by a nominated prison governor, on behalf of the governing governor*. Home Leave Boards convene weekly to consider applications made by prisoners for home or resettlement leave. Prisoners on occasions are permitted to appear before the board.
	The final decision to release a prisoner or otherwise is taken by the Home Leave Board chairperson after full and careful deliberation by the board members of all relevant factors pertaining to the application. The board is also required by the Human Rights Act 1998 to give effect to the rights enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
	Ultimately the governing governor of the prison takes responsibility for the decisions of the Home Leave Boards. The governing governor and his deputy have the right to overturn any decision(s) made by the board.
	The Prison Service also operates a compassionate temporary release and home visits scheme for prisoners to visit close family relations who may be critically and/or terminally ill. The same consideration will apply.
	* The governing governor is the overall governor in charge of the prison.

Prisoners: Parole

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What sanctions are imposed in Northern Ireland on prisoners who break their parole conditions; and whether they are imposed in all cases.

Lord Rooker: Before a Northern Ireland prisoner is temporarily released from prison custody he/she must agree to the conditions of his/her release.
	All prisoners who have breached pre-release home or resettlement leave conditions, on returning to prison, are charged with an offence under prison rules where there is prime facie evidence to support a charge. The prisoner is then adjudicated on by a governor during a disciplinary hearing. If found guilty of breaching prison rules, the prisoner will be the subject of an adjudication award(s). Adjudications awards range from a maximum of 14 days' cellular confinement, to loss of association with other prisoners, to loss of prison earnings. In addition to cellular confinement there are other losses of privileges for varying time periods.
	Since summer 2002, following a European Court ruling, an adjudicating governor no longer has the power to increase a prisoner's sentence by awarding loss of remission. However, on returning to prison the prisoner's release date is recalculated and extended by the length of time the prisoner has been unlawfully at large.
	Where prisoners have absconded and failed to return to prison by the designated date and time the adjudicating governor may decide to deal with the matter internally or can adjourn the hearing and refer the matter to the PSNI for investigation and consideration for prosecution. The matter is referred under the provisions of Section 25 of the Prison Act, which carries a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment for the offence of being unlawfully at large while under sentence. The Prison Service has a memorandum of understanding with the PSNI and PPSNI that any prisoner, who has absconded for a substantial period of time, normally over eight weeks, can be considered for prosecution. The majority of cases are dealt with internally by the Prison Service under the adjudication process without recourse to the PSNI and PPSNI. Resorting to the courts has rarely resulted in a fresh sentence.
	Finally, each individual prisoner's pre-release and resettlement leave quotas under the pre-release home and resettlement scheme are based on the length of sentence and continuous custody. If a prisoner breaks continuous custody by remaining outwith the prison unlawfully for an entire calendar day or more, the prisoner will have been deemed to have broken continuous custody. As a result the prisoner's entitlement to pre-release and resettlement leave will be recalculated from the day on which he returns to prison, and consequently his home leave quotas will significantly reduce.
	In any fresh application for home or resettlement leave, account is taken of any previous leave failures by the Home Leave Board as part of its consideration.

Prisoners: Parole

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will review the decision-making process for granting parole in Northern Ireland.

Lord Rooker: The Prison Service keeps its pre-release home leave decision-making process under continual review and incorporates lessons to be learnt from cases where prisoners are unlawfully at large.
	While the service seeks to reduce the risk to the public to the minimum by screening out less suitable candidates for temporary release, it is not possible to predict with absolute certainty that a prisoner will return to prison at the specified time. Past behaviour, including any failure to abide by temporary release conditions, is always taken into account when considering applications.
	Pre-release home leave is an essential part of preparing prisoners for release and reducing the risk of reoffending. This includes the maintenance of family relationships. Temporary release assists with obtaining jobs and support to address addictions, obtaining accommodation, or managing debt.

Prisons: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many prisoners have not returned to jail in Northern Ireland following compassionate leave in each year since 2000.

Lord Rooker: The number of prisoners who failed to return is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Year Number of Prisoners who failed to return to prison following a period of Compassionate Temporary Release 
			 2001 0 
			 2002 9 
			 2003 5 
			 2004 7 
			 2005 2 
			 2006 3 
			 2007 to present 1 
		
	
	The statistics requested were not collated in the format required prior to 2001.
	Of the above, one prisoner remains unlawfully at large, 14 were returned to prison by the PSNI, 11 returned of their own accord and one prisoner died while still unlawfully at large.

Rally Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether final payments have been made to Rally Ireland, the Circuit of Ireland and the North West 200 for 2005 and 2006; and, if so, how much each received in each of the two years.

Lord Rooker: The Northern Ireland Events Company (NIEC) is currently finalising payments to Rally Ireland for 2005 and 2006. To date, Rally Ireland has received £321,869.75 for 2005 and £570,004.21 for 2006.
	Final payments have been made to the Circuit of Ireland for 2005 and 2006. The Circuit of Ireland has received £6,000 in 2005 from NIEC and in 2006 has received support to the value of £100,000 under the International Fund for Ireland (IFI) Business Support Scheme, which is jointly funded by IFI and public funding from NIEC and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB). Final payments have been made to the North West 200 for 2005 and 2006. The North West 200 has received £85,897.73 in 2005 from NIEC and in 2006 has received support to the value of £145,687 under the IFI Business Support Scheme.

Rally Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 22 March (WA 226) concerning Rally Ireland, whether the amount of sponsorship for the event will depend on the amount of activity which is created in the United Kingdom.

Lord Rooker: The final amount of sponsorship for the 2007 Rally Ireland event will be dependant on the amount of potential benefit to Northern Ireland demonstrated in the approved business case.

Roads: Newry to Dundalk

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have any evidence that illegal waste from the Republic of Ireland is being deposited under the carriageway which is currently being constructed between Newry and Dundalk; and, if not, whether they will carry out tests to verify whether such dumping has taken place; and
	What are the security arrangements for guarding the carriageway currently under construction between Newry and Dundalk during the hours of darkness.

Lord Rooker: The chief executive of Roads Service (Dr Malcolm McKibbin) has been asked to write to the noble Lord in response to these questions.
	Letter from Dr Malcolm McKibbin to Lord Laird, dated April 2007.
	You recently asked Her Majesty's Government two Parliamentary Questions regarding:
	i. whether they have any evidence that illegal waste from the Republic of Ireland is being deposited under the carriageway which is currently being constructed between Newry and Dundalk; and, if not, whether they will carry out tests to verify whether such dumping has taken place.; and
	ii. what are the security arrangements for guarding the carriageway currently under construction between Newry and Dundalk during the hours of darkness.
	As this issue falls within my responsibility as chief executive of Roads Service, I have been asked to reply.
	I can advise that neither Roads Service, our technical advisors, who are monitoring the construction of the A1 Cloghogue to the border dual carriageway (part of the A1/N1 Newry to Dundalk link road), nor the contractor, have any evidence that illegal waste from the Republic of Ireland is being deposited under the carriageway currently being constructed. Therefore, in the absence of any evidence that might indicate the location where such waste may have been deposited, I regret that I am unable to justify the significant costs of carrying out tests along the 4.5 km stretch of the road scheme located within Northern Ireland, to investigate whether such dumping has taken place.
	However, I can advise that the new dual carriageway is being constructed through the site of a rubbish tip in an old quarry at Mount Pleasant in County Louth, in the Republic of Ireland. I am advised that the material that is below the footprint of the road at this location is being processed on site. This is in line with current good practice and in consultation with Louth County Council (the client for the section of the road scheme south of the border, and the local authority with responsibility for matters relating to waste). While suitable material arising from this process is being incorporated in the works south of the border, unsuitable waste material is being removed to a licensed landfill site in County Louth.
	As regards the security arrangements for the dual carriageway construction site between Newry and Dundalk, I should advise that, while Roads Service's technical advisers are on site monitoring the construction, this is not normally during the hours of darkness. Security of the site is primarily a matter for the contractor, and in this respect the contractor advises that the site is secured at the end of each day and security personnel are engaged to patrol during the hours of darkness.

Roads: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many road accidents which were reported to the Police Service of Northern Ireland in 2006 involved agricultural vehicles; and what that is as a percentage of the total.

Lord Rooker: The number of road traffic collisions recorded by PSNI in 2006 is shown as follows:
	
		
			 Injury Road Traffic Collisions involving an agricultural vehicle: 2006* 
			  Number % of total collisions 
			 Fatal Collision 0 0.0 
			 Serious Collision 19 2.1 
			 Slight Collision 54 1.2 
			 Total Injury Collisions 73 1.3 
		
	
	All of these collisions involved an agricultural tractor. The figures are provisional and subject to change.
	Source: Central Statistics Unit—PSNI

Roads: Traffic Signs

Lord Bradshaw: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have to reduce the size of the road traffic signs used to enforce the ban on motorised vehicles on routes such as The Ridgeway.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The Government have no plans to reduce the size of road traffic signs generally. Road traffic signs must either meet the requirements of the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002, or be authorised by the Secretary of State. Signs indicating a prohibition of motor vehicles are already prescribed in a wide range of sizes. While signs should not be intrusive, they must be conspicuous in order to be effective.
	Decisions about the placing of road traffic signs at particular locations are the responsibility of the relevant traffic authority. It would be for the authority to seek special authorisation, if it is considered that there are special circumstances that justify an exceptionally small sign. The merits of any such application would be considered on a case by case basis.

Schools: Rowallane Integrated College

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have made an assessment of the level of non-statutory funding already raised for Rowallane Integrated College in Northern Ireland; and when they expect that the college will become a full part of the state education system.

Lord Rooker: Rowallane Integrated College operates as an independent school and as such does not receive funding from the Department of Education. The department does not have an assessment of the level of funding for the school. A development proposal for the school to become a grant-maintained school was published for consultation in September 2006 and turned down in January this year. All proposals are considered carefully on their merits.

Sport: Football Hooligans

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 14 March (WA 140) concerning proposals on sports ground-related public order issues, when the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure started the process of creating proposals; who took part in the process; what consultation took place; and on what date the process was completed.

Lord Rooker: The process of creating proposals for the introduction of sports grounds-related public order legislation began in January 2005. Officials from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and the Northern Ireland Office took part in this process. No consultation has yet taken place, but there have been exploratory discussions with the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the Sports Council for Northern Ireland and governing bodies of sports likely to be affected. The process is not complete as Ministers are still considering the proposals.

Sport: Northern Ireland Stadiums

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Who will take the final decision concerning the location of a national stadium for Northern Ireland; and when that decision will be taken.

Lord Rooker: The decision concerning the location of the Government's proposed multi-sports stadium was taken by the former Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure, Angela Smith MP. This decision was announced in March 2005. However, a future devolved Northern Ireland Assembly would be free to revisit any aspect of the stadium proposal.

Sport: Northern Ireland Stadiums

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will provide substantial funding for the Northern Ireland national stadium if it is sited at (1) the Maze and (2) Belfast.

Lord Rooker: The Government are considering providing substantial funding for a multi-sports stadium sited only at the Maze/Long Kesh. No other location in Northern Ireland, including Belfast, is capable of satisfying the Government's key requirements for a multi-sports stadium.

St Andrews Agreement

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the legislation giving effect to the St Andrews agreement for Northern Ireland cannot be altered.

Lord Rooker: In light of the historic agreement between the DUP and Sinn Fein to enter into power- sharing government together from 8 May, the Government introduced legislation to modify the deadline of 26 March for the restoration of devolution as provided for under the Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Act 2006.
	The Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) (No. 2) Act 2007, which received Royal Assent on 27 March 2007, set the new deadline for restoration as 8 May 2007.

Sudan: Darfur

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What consideration they are giving to the warning given by Sir John Holmes, the United Nations emergency relief co-ordinator, that aid relief in Darfur is close to collapse and that aid workers have been beaten and sexually assaulted.

Baroness Amos: Humanitarian agencies in Darfur are struggling to deliver vital aid in exceptionally difficult circumstances. The main challenges facing agencies are attacks and banditry, and bureaucratic impediments and harassment by the Government of Sudan. I am encouraged that the concerted lobbying by the UN, UK and others has brought about the joint UN-Government of Sudan communiqué issued on 28 March. This represents an important step forward, undertaking to ease the administrative constraints on humanitarian agencies and reaffirming the Government's commitment to supporting the work, and respecting the neutrality and independence, of humanitarian agencies.
	In order to monitor the implementation of the communiqué, a committee has been set up to be co-chaired by the UN and Government of Sudan and includes representatives of the non-government organisations and three observers from the African Union, the Arab League and the donor community. The first meeting will be held in mid-April and we look to this mechanism to ensure that the Government live up to their commitments.

Tourism Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which promotional events, sponsored by Tourism Ireland, included (a) Irish dancing, and (b) Scottish dancing during the past three years.

Lord Rooker: Between 2003 and 2006 Tourism Ireland sponsored around 80 promotional events which had an element of Irish dancing associated with them. During the same period the company sponsored five events which included displays of Scottish dancing. These latter events were aimed at the Scots-Irish community in the southern states of the USA.

Tourism: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What proposals they have to promote Ulster Scots tourism for Northern Ireland.

Lord Rooker: The NITB is working to complete a cultural tourism action plan which will address best practice in the successful delivery of integrated, sustainable cultural tourism including Ulster Scots. The NITB has also committed to ensuring that more comprehensive information is available through its website.
	Cultural tourism will continue to form part of the marketing strategy in the USA and part of the forthcoming Smithsonian Folklife Festival in July 2007.

Ulster-Scots Agency

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure imposed any conditions on the job specification and job advertisement for the current chief executive of the Ulster-Scots Agency.

Lord Rooker: Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure officials consulted the Ulster-Scots Agency to agree a job specification and job advertisement for the CEO post when it was last advertised.

Ulster-Scots Agency

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure took legal advice concerning the appointment of the current chief executive of the Ulster Scots Agency; if so, what effect that advice had on the recruitment process; and whether they will place a copy of the advice in the Library of the House.

Lord Rooker: Yes. The legal advice is, however, subject to legal professional privilege and will not be laid in the Library of the House.

Ulster-Scots Agency

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, since the creation of the Ulster-Scots Agency, any job advertisements for that agency were agreed by the Northern Ireland Department of Culture Arts and Leisure; and, if so, for which positions.

Lord Rooker: Since its inception, the Ulster Scots Agency has agreed as required with the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure job advertisements relating to posts within the organisation.

Ulster-Scots Agency

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 22 March (WA 250—2) concerning the funding of the Ulster-Scots Agency, by when they propose that the Ulster-Scots Agency will have parity of funding with the Irish Language Agency as envisaged in the Belfast Agreement in 1998.

Lord Rooker: I have nothing further to add to the Answer I gave the noble Lord on 26 March 2007 (WA250).

Ulster-Scots Agency

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In each year since its creation, what indicative budget has been provided to the Ulster-Scots Agency; and what budget was actually awarded in each year following the development of its business case by the agency.

Lord Rooker: The funding for the Ulster-Scots Agency is based on the approved actions in the agency's annual business plans together with associated staffing costs. The budgets awarded to the agency since its creation are shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Year 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 
			 Amounts £0.667m £1.29m £1.42m £1.54m £1.78m £1.809m £2.132m £2.557m

Ulster-Scots Agency

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Ulster-Scots Agency develops its annual budget alongside the indicative budget which is supplied by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.

Lord Rooker: The Ulster-Scots Agency's annual business plan is compiled taking into account the indicative budget figures.

Ulster-Scots Agency

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How the Ulster-Scots Agency's annual indicative budget is developed; who is involved in the process; whether there is outside consultation; and whether equality is a consideration.

Lord Rooker: Indicative budget calculations are based on the current year budget figure with increased allocations based on approved actions in their corporate plans, cost of living increases and the department's best estimate of draft budget proposals. Officials from the sponsor departments and finance departments are involved in the process, along with agency officials who include the indicative budget figure in the business plan. There is full consultation on the agency's corporate and business plans.

Water Supply: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the Northern Ireland Water Council was disbanded; what were its functions; and who will exercise those functions in the future.

Lord Rooker: The reasons for the disbandment of the council are set out in the consultation report on the integrated impact assessment of reform of water and sewerage services (December 2005), paragraphs 4.43 to 4.54. The primary functions of the council were set out in Article 58 of the Water (NI) Order 1999, being to advise relevant departments on the exercise of their functions under that order and the Water and Sewerage Services (NI) Order 1973. Under new legislation the water industry will be subject to regulation by the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation as the economic and consumer regulator and the Environment and Heritage Service as environmental regulator. The Consumer Council for Northern Ireland will act as consumer representative.

Waterways Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 14 March (WA 143) concerning Waterways Ireland, who compiled the suitability questionnaire; and on what basis it was used to select a contractor for the work on Royal Canal Longford and Begnagh Bridges; and
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 14 March (WA 143) concerning Waterways Ireland, who judged whether tenders were suitable; on what basis the contractors were selected for the work on Royal Canal Longford and Begnagh Bridges; and whether an overspend on the project is expected.

Lord Rooker: To ensure that the contractors competing for these contracts had suitable experience and resources to undertake the works and complied with Directive 97/52/EC (bankruptcy conditions) suitability questions, based on guidelines concerning the conditions of contract for roads and civil engineering, were compiled by Waterways Ireland for the Begnagh Bridge and by Roughan & O'Donovan (Consulting Engineers) for the Longford Bridge. Each organisation assessed whether the respective tenders met those suitability criteria. From the suitable tenders the most economically advantageous tender was then selected.
	Current indications are that the Longford Bridge contract will be slightly above the tender sum and that the Begnagh Bridge contract will be within the tender price.

Waterways Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 22 March (WA 228) concerning Waterways Ireland, how many consultants were considered for a review of the structures; how the successful consultancy was awarded; and what was the cost.

Lord Rooker: I understand from Waterways Ireland that the organisation review was let by public tender. Forty-nine consultants requested tender information packs and 11 valid tenders were received.
	The organisational review steering group had approved a scoring mechanism prior to the receipt of the tenders. The tenders were evaluated using the agreed scoring mechanism. The tender was awarded to the consultants who achieved the best overall score.
	The cost of the successful tender was £36,000 excluding VAT.